Wild flowers get vicar's blessing

The wild flowers of one special churchyard in North Devon have received the blessings of their local vicar. On the morning of Tuesday 28th April a new wildlife meadow in the churchyard of the 13th century church of St. Petroc's, Petrockstowe, was formally blessed by the Reverend Susanna Metz before being opened with the presentation of a plaque on which part of the inscription reads: "This area is specially managed for the care of God's creations in need of a helping hand." Last year Devon Wildlife Trust, through its Nature Improvement Area project, began work with St Petroc's Parochial Church Council to improve the wildlife of the churchyard. Now an area has been set aside to allow native wildflowers to bloom and seed. Once the seeds have set, the area will be cut for hay and then 'recycled', by being fed to local livestock. The area selected contains no graves. The PCC have decided that initially a strip of ground will be allocated for the wildflower meadow for three years, when a decision regarding expansion of this area will be taken. A small team of local people has been appointed to keep an eye on its success monitoring the plant and insect life of the meadow. The Rev Susanna Metz blessed the wildflowers at a service attended by parishioners. She said: "On Rogation days in our team, we routinely bless our fields and farms, so it seems right to ask God's blessing on our efforts to secure a place for the insects, that are so vital for our food sources, to flourish. The church must be on the forefront of protecting the gift of creation - the environment - we've been given. We hope with this area to show how beauty, our own health, and the health of our world are interconnected." Chris Smith, Chair of St Petroc's Parochial Church Council, said: "With 98% of England's flower rich meadows having been lost in the past sixty years, every area of wild flower meadow, no matter how small, is helpful as a food source for bumblebees and butterflies, essential pollinators of our food crops." Lisa Schneidau, Project Manager for the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area, said: "We are delighted that St Petrock's Church has decided to manage part of this churchyard for wildlife, for the whole parish to enjoy. Projects like this, which are started and driven by the local community, are an essential part of helping to restore, manage and celebrate Devon's natural landscapes. St Petroc's is to be congratulated for its valuable work for Devon's wildlife."

 The Rev Susanna Metz and parishioners at the blessing of the wildflowers at St Petroc's church, Petrockstowe Photos copyright DWT (All rights reserved)